Semaphore and the like for automobiles



Sept. 4, 1928.

1,682,951 J. BEEBY SEMAPHORE AND THE" LIKE FOR AUTOMOBILES M a V )2 iasheet 1 i Ill|!!illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll I llllllll In 1/672 Z07: J L77v6 fle6by Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES JAMES BEEBY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SEMAPHORE fiND LIKE FOB AUTQIVIQBILES.

Applica ion filed December 7. 1925. Serial Ii'o. 73,784.

This invention has to do with improvements in semaphores and the like for automobiles. It has to do particularly with improvements in devices for giving a signal to another person as to the prospective movements of the automobile on which the semaphore is mounted. For this purpose, the device is so arranged as to give a signal such as start, stop, right, left pass, etc.

The main object of the invention is to provide a very simple device, one which can be, very cheaply and easily manufactured from few parts, can be cheaply assembled, will operate in a very satisfactory manner, and present a very attractive appearance when in place on an automobile.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is so arranged that whenever any particular signal blade is raised, it will remain in the raised position until purposely lowered by the driver. In this connection, it is a further object to make provision for exerting the necessary friction for the different blades to ensure the foregoing result without, however, causing the parts to bind unnecessarily.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of means for satisfactorily illuminating the blades when they are raised so as to give the desired operation for night service.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which can be very easily adapted to the body of the vehicle or to the frame of the door or window and at very little expense.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same, which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the upper front corner of an automobile body having applied thereto a semaphore embodying the features of the present invention;

2 shows a plan View corresponding to Fig. 1; V

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the semaphore on enlarged scale, the stop blade being raised, and a portion of the side plate of the device being broken away so as to reveal the interior construction; i

Fig. 4 shows a cross section on the line t4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows: and

Fig. 5 shows a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, but on enlar ed scale.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the 801113, phore as a whole may be supported in any convenient manner. For this purpose, it is preferably provided with a stud 6 project ing from one of its side plates and through a bracket block 7. This bracket block in turn is mounted upon another stud Swhich projects from a bracket 9 which is secured to the frame 10 of the vehicle. In the particular construction illustrated, the bracket 9 is secured to the front post of the door 11 of the vehicle, so that the semaphore also occupies the proper position adjacent to the window opening 12. Upon lowering the window pane 13 the semaphore can be conveniently reached and manipulated. The adjustment block? is secured to the studs 6 and 8 in any convenient manner as by means of set screws 14.

The semaphore proper comprises a pair of vertical side plates 15 and 16. These are joined together in spaced relationship by a series of through bolts or pins 17 which draw the side plates 15 and 16 towards each other, sleeves 18 on said through bolts serving to retain the side plates in the desired spaced relationship.

The semaphore includes a number of blades 19 which are of the general shape shown in Fig. 3. These blades are pivoted on a throughpin or sleeve 20 which reaches between the upper portions of the side plates 15 and 16. The blades are of such shape and size that when lowered into the vertical position they pass completely between the side plates between which they are hidden and protected when not in service. This fact is clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

The various blades 19 are provided with individual operating fingers 21 which extend from the opposite side of the pivotal shaft 20, so that said operating fingers are brought to a relatively close position to the drivers.

seat within the automobile. As the various blades are lowered into the vertical. position, the fingers 21 assume a position extending upwardly at an angle of approximately lS", and as each finger depressed into the lowermost position its blade is raised into the horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3.

Each of the fingers 21 is preferably provided with an end button 22 projecting at right angles to the face of the finger and by means of which the finger is easily manipu; lated. The various fingers are preferably or successively increasing lengths, so that when the blades are all lowered, the fingers comeextends across bet-ween the upper portions of the side plates 15 and 16. This pin 23 also serves another function presently to be explained.

In order to limit the downthrow of the blades I provide one or more cross pins 24 and 25 extending between the edge portions of the plates 15 and 16; and'these cross pins 24: and 25 are preferably provided with sleeves of rubber or other resilient material 26, so that when the blades are lowered any unpleasant noise will be avoided.

It is desired to retain the various blades in spaced relationship with respect to each other, so that they will not interfere with each other as they are individually operated. It is alsodesired to avoid any cross interference between thevarious blades such as would cause the raising of one blade to be communicated to the adjacent blades. For

the above purposes, I have provided the V sleeves or washers 27 on'the pivot pin 20,

said washers being placed between the suc cessive blades. These washers are of somewhat larger diameter than the blades themselves, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4:, and the through pin 23, already referred to, extends through the upper edge portions of the washers as well as through the side plates 15 and 16. Consequently, said washers are effectively retained against rotation, and in this way the rotation of one blade is not communicated to the adjacent blades.

In order to place the blades and washers under such an amount of compression as will make sure that any blade will remain in the'raised position until purposely lowered,

I have provided spring means or the like in conjunction with the pivot ends of the variout blades and washers. In the particular construction illustrated, this'takes the form' of a pair of blocks of rubber or the like 28 which are set between the upper portions of the side plates 15 and 16'and the lower-mos of the washers 27.

. The'side' plates themselves are perforated to receive the pivotsleeve '20. At one side a washer 29 is placed againstthe end of the sleeve 20 and also against the face of the plate 15, said washer being held in place by a tap screw 30 which threads onto the end: aphore for, the purposespecified including of the pivot sleet e20. A similar construction may beused at the other end if desired. It Wlll be noted that with this sort of an arrangement the compression exerted by tightening up the screws cannot cause an excessive amount of compression of the rub ber blocks, since the parts cannot be tightened up beyond the amount limited by contact of the washers with the ends of the sleeve 20. This will make it certain that when the parts are definitely tightened up, the washers and blades will be brought into a definite fixed amount of frictional contact, and will avoid either a binding action due to excessive friction or a loosening up with wear, i

V In the particular construction illustrated, another bracket 31 is placedagainst the face of the plate 16, being held in place thereon by the screw 32 which reaches through the washer 33, and through said bracket into the sleeve 20. This bracket 31, when used,

is forthe support'of the stem 34 of'a small lamp shade 35, within which lamp shade is placed the electric bulb 36. The lower portion ofthe tubular lamp shade 35 is slotted, as shownat 37 so as to direct the illumination down against the face of the blade which is raised, as shown in Fig. 3,

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the features of my present invention, still I do not intend aphore for the purpose specified including in combination a pair ofvertical side plates, a series of pins extending: between the bottom of the side plates and between the side plates along one edge thereof serving to draw the side plates towards each other,

means for limiting the approaching movement of the side plates towards each other,

a pivot sleeve extending between the upper portions of the side plates, means for drawing the side plates towards each other at the position of said pivot sleeve and for limiting the approaching movement of the side plates towards each other at suchlocation, a series of semaphore arms pivotally mounted on said pivot sleeve, a series of disks located on said pivot sleeve intermediate between the pivotal ends of the arms, a cross pin extending between the side plates and through the disks at a position above the pivotal ends of "the semaphore arms serving .to limit the upswing of the arms and'to retain the disks against rotation for the purpose specified, and a rubber block located on the pivot sleeve .intermediatebetween each of the side plates,

and the scribed. I V

2. As a new articleof manufacture, a semproximate arm, substantially as demeans for securing said'side plates in spaced relationship with respect to each other, a

pivot member extending between the upper portions of the side plates, series of semaphore arms pivotally mounted on said pivot member, a series of disks located on said pivot member intermediate between the pivotal ends of the arms, a cross pin extending between the side plates and through the disks at a position above the pivotal ends of the semaphore arms serving to limit the up swing of the arms and to retain the disks against rotation for the purpose specified, and a compressible block located on the pivot member intermediate between each of the side plates and the proximate arm, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a semaphore for the purpose specified including in combination a pair of vertical side plates,

means for retaining the same in spaced relationship with respect to each other, a pivot member extending between the upper portions of the side plates, a series of semaphore arms pivotally mounted on said pivot memher and normally depending into a vertical position and adapted to be raised into a horizontal position to give an indication, a

series of stationary members located intermediate between the pivotal ends of the arms, a compressible block located on the pivot member intermediate between each of the side plates and the proximate arm, and a horizontal lamp above the indicating position of the semaphore arms and lying parallel to said position, substantially as de scribed.

, JAMES BEEBY. 

